On November 30th, 1962, the great Bo Jackson was born, making Bo Diddley a very happy guy thirty years later when his career was revived by the Bo Knows commercials.
Bo Jackson was as good an athlete as you can ever imagine. No one has ever competed at the skill level that he did in both football and baseball. It was so sad that his career was cut short, because he would have been in the record books as an all-time great.
He is one of the few players to make the All-Star game in two sports and in 1989 he was the Baseball All-Star game MVP. His potential was limitless as described in the many quotes said about him baseballquotations.com
"If I see Reggie Jackson, I'm going to tell him, this man makes your home runs look like pop ups."
--John Mayberry Sr, talking about Bo Jackson
On November 29th, 1969, the greatest relief pitcher in baseball history was born---Mariano Rivera
Rivera is one of my all-time favorite players. He was so much fun to watch and he always handled himself with such class and dignity. He is greatly missed.
Over his career, he was voted to 13 all-star games, was the 1999 World Series MVP and holds the career record for saves with 652.
Another great who had his birthday today was Minnie Minoso, but the Baseball Birthday Quote of the Day, goes to Mo, the greatest relief pitcher in the history of the game.
"He needs to play in a higher league if there is one. Ban him from baseball. He should be illegal."
--Tom Kelly, on Mariano Rivera
Today, November 28th, long time Yankee pitcher as well as long time Giant pitching coach, Dave Righetti turns 58.
'Rags' was both a top starting pitcher and relief pitcher over his Yankee career between 1979--1990. Among the highlights of his pitching career includes the 1981 Rookie of the Year Award as well as pitching a no-hitter on July 4th of 1983.
More recently, Righetti has been the long time pitching coach of the San Francisco Giants. Much like Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan were inseparable, the same is true for Bruce Bochy and Righetti.
The baseball quote recalls his days as a starting pitcher with the Yankees.
"He's got Hall of Fame stuff. He has simply everything you look for in a pitcher, arm. motion, makeup."--Clyde King, on Righetti
November 27th Happy Birthday in Baseball Quotes to 2007 National League MVP, Jimmy Rollins. Other notable birthdays today include two future Hall of Famers, Mike Scioscia and Ivan Rodriguez.
Rollins gets the Quote of the Day, because even though I hated him as a Mets fan, I also greatly admired the way he has played the game over his career. He was the glue of the great Phillies team with Howard, Utley, Carpenter, Cliff Lee and Roy Halliday.
In honor of his birthday, Jimmy Rollins gets the Quote of the Day
"You got to think you're better, then show them why you're better."
--Jimmy Rollins baseballquotations.com
What a perfect time to set up a new blog site celebrating the birthday in quotes of baseball players.
Today, November 26th in baseball history, featured the birth of two Hall of Famers---Hugh Duffy and Vernon Louis Gomez, better known to the world as 'Lefty'.
Besides being a Hall of Fame pitcher with the Yankees, Gomez was also known for his great sense of humor and quotes that have filled many of my books over the years.
In celebration of what would have been the 108th birthday of Lefty Gomez, here is the very first quote on the new BaseballBirthdayQuote blog.
"I was never nervous when I threw the ball. When I let it go I was scared to death."
